A bit of concept art for you 40k fans. This particular image is a concept for the Serpent transports used by Iderhra. It is, depending on my level of success, also something of a project to make one of approximately game-scale.

I would like people's opinion on the design... if you like it, if you don't, if you have questions about what the heck is going on here.

I like it, its an interesting take on the classic serpent, I remember having several of those models in my old epic armies. I suppose the problem with this versus the "new" serpent/falcon is the change of design that occured with the release of the Vyper and then falcon, also I can see why GW would want to minimise cost vs sales potential by reusing the same moulds but I could definitely imagine the eldar doing something abit more dramatic.

I don't know about reworking. I did draw something I called the 'Fire Asp' which was a one-person light tank hunter, vaguely similar in concept to Forge World's Hornet.

The concept is the same, and the design has some similarities. I am not really in love with the Hornet. I think its actually the weakest of their current Eldar line, but its not much of a comparison with how much I absolutely love some of their other models.

In any case, one of my old 40k buddies suggested if I was going to actually get into sculpting something, a multi-part (by my estimation, four part) resin model is not the place to start. I could probably make a Fire Asp a single piece (that is, one single double mold). I should have a concept up in the next day or two. Sadly, my old illustration bought the farm when I lost my AOL account (so this was quite some time ago).

There is definitely supposed to be some similarity to the old serpent. The large, shovel design or the 'flying iron' is a much more 'Eldarly' design than adding a half a dozen bits to the Falcon and calling it a different tank. I mean... why would the Eldar do that. It makes more sense from the Imperium's point of view. Most Loyalists don't even understand how their tanks work. Interchangeable parts would be pretty important.

But then, if you have an efficient design, why change it? I personally like the look of the old FW and newer GW versions of the serpent a lot, and feel that the similarities give eldar armies a cool, unified look. But then I'm a sucker for tank variants as long as I like the original design ^^ That said, I'm perfectly fine with alternate designs and yours shows lots of potential.

Oh yeah, definitely variations on a theme. If you look at car lines, like Dodge or Nissan, there are certain unifying aspects of their designs, but each model is its on piece. I know why GW chooses to do what it does. It is easier to throw in an extra $.30 of plastic, price it up another $10, and call it a day. If everyone buys it, why bother making a second line just for the one transport? If I were to do it though, I love the old wave serpent concept, and I like the general design of the modern Eldar (and then I've added a few ideas).

it has a strong similarity to the "flying shoes" Serpent back in the day ancient days of armor cast, which may be your goal at all or you were influenced by old illustrations.

Anyway in order to evolve this concept , I would push the ramp more to the front in order to eliminate the narrow corridor between the side armor, which would led to a possibility to shorten the hole tank a little bit.

Another (very minor) detail which goes to the air fens of the engines, aerodynamic issues, that the air doesn't have good way to reach them, sure Eldar have the technology to ignore this but I you want you could consider it during the later design process.

The air intake issue is actually reasonable. Honestly, I was going for something thematically fitting. I would think the giant energy field that varies from invincible, to extremely powerful would already all but stop airflow from the front of the vehicle anyway.

My initial attempt at sculpting this tank was leading towards a finished product that was to have a footprint similar to a landraider, perhaps marginally larger... which is somewhat disadvantageous in some ways.

The general idea, I guess, was harkening back to the old descriptions, where the Eldar would rush up in these giant floating irons. It would shoot its front shield forward and out would come the assault troops. Of course, it would make more sense if they got out the front in this case. Now obviously the rules don't currently reflect a way to do this. In spite of the rationale here, the positioning of the ramp is currently 100% aesthetic.